Bukowski

Aguardiente

 

This spirit’s name means ‘fire water’ which is pretty high on the name scale of awesomeness. Columbia is aguardiente’s native land, though South and Central America are known to produce their own brands. Distilled in a similar process as rum, aguardiente starts as molasses from sugarcane fields, and is brought to distilleries. Anise is then added (which differentiates from rum distillation), and it undergoes its distillation process. The taste is similar to licorice, but with more throat burning. As Columbia’s national drink, it is brewed into their culture and is widely used during celebration. Columbians are known to walk around festivals with shot glasses around their necks ready to receive any aguardiente being poured. With an ABV of around 30%, this spirit is one of the weaker on the liquor shelf, but you can be sure Columbian’s make up for the lower alcohol intensity by drinking a higher volume.

Links

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Aguardiente-Nectar-Traditional-_111969850.html

http://thelatinkitchen.com/drinks/spirits/a/first-sip-aguardiente-colombia

http://www.speakinglatino.com/the-colombian-bar-a-check-list-of-the-6-alcoholic-drinks-that-you-need-to-try/

 

Awamori

Awamori originated in the 15^th century when its rugged ancestor was imported into Okinawa from Thailand, using Thai Rice as its main distillate. Thai rice is still used today in the distillation process, but over the centuries Okinawans have refined the process making it a point of pride for their island. Awamori’s history hit a bit of turbulence in the 1940’s due to WWII; with the heavy bombings on the island, the liquor almost became extinct. Fortunately it revived itself after the war and is now a popular feature of island tourism.

Variations of this spirit exist, notably kusu (meaning ‘old liquor’) which is awamori aged in a cask, sometimes for as long as 300 years. Distilled almost exclusively in Okinawa Japan, Awamori is often associated with the other famous Japanese alcoholic beverages: Sake and Shochu. The spirit is generally lower proof then other liquors (around 60 proof, 30%ABV) and is generally healthy when compared to other liquors.

Pisco

Pisco is a 40% ABV grape brandy first created in the 16^th century, whose origin is hotly contested between two Spanish speaking neighbors. Peru and Chile both claim to be the originators of the spirit and each have given it the honor of being their national drink. Overall, Peru exports more pisco by volume, but each nation puts its own variation on the grape brandy. Peru mandates that its spirit must be distilled in a coastal region, distilled to proof, not be aged in barrels, and must be single distilled from grape wine as opposed to leftover juice from wine production. Chilean pisco, on the other hand, can be aged in barrels, can be distilled multiple times, and does not have to be distilled to proof. Choice of what country you want your pisco from is ultimately up to personal preference but each provide the sweet-sour taste and the base ingredient for the infamous pisco sour.


Links

http://magazine.foxnews.com/food-wellness/boozy-beverage-youre-probably-not-drinkingyet

http://www.foodworldnews.com/articles/47614/20151028/the-pisco-sour-so-good-that-it-is-considered-the-national-drink-of-two-south-american-nations.htm

http://www.eater.com/drinks/2015/10/6/9385867/the-complete-guide-to-pisco

Raki

The Turkish spirit known as raki (Arrack) has been a popular drink in the region since the days of the Ottoman Empire. It is a clear brandy, distilled from grape wine, mixed with anise for flavor, and is aged in barrels for a short period, leading to a spirit with a 40-50% ABV. The clear liquid becomes milky in appearance when water is added, which has led to the nickname ‘Lions Milk’ (Link 1). Typically, it is sipped with meals, following the tradition of a ‘Raki Table’ in which philosophers and leaders would eat appetizers and discuss important ideas while under the influence (Link 2). Turkey’s modern founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was an avid drinker of the spirit and he would often sport a glass while conversing about politics, especially when it would anger his more traditional rivals (Link 3).

Raki remains popular today despite pressure from non-secular government officials in the Muslim nation. That popularity may soon take a downward spiral, as non-secular political parties have increased pressures through taxation and limiting advertisement and celebration of Turkey’s unofficial liquor. These government crackdowns on raki are having an added side effect of increases in unregulated liquor, causing multiple deaths in recent times (Link 4).

Link 1: http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Food/Raki.html

Link 2: http://www.yenirakiglobal.com/about-2/

Link 3: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/turkey-prohibition-creates-alcohol-black-market.html#

Link 4: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/12/fury-as-turkey-axes-raki-festival-amid-alcohol-crackdown

Hemingway Quote

Bagger Vance Drinking Quote

Rum and Coke

Drink History: The Cuba Libre

                I have enjoyed Rum and Coke since my Uncle introduced it to me as his favorite drink. His recipe doesn’t encompass what most people consider standard portions, since it is just a full glass of Rum with a touch of soda for coloring. From the moment the drink was introduced to me it has become my go-to for any bar or relaxing occasions (although bottom shelf Vodka shots have been a known alternate). It’s simple, easy to make, and easy to drink. But I did not understand the importance of the drink’s beginnings until I discovered its alternate name. I first heard the other name for Rum and Coke, the Cuba Libre, while studying abroad in Ecuador. I became infatuated with the name since the English translation is ‘Cuba Freedom’ and of course looked up the history to discover its glorious Cuban-American Heritage.

                The true beginnings reach back to the 1860s when Facundo Bacardi, the founder of Bacardi Rum (shocking I know), began mass production of low cost White Rum. The spread of White Rum was influential to the world of alcohol, as White Rum’s taste could be better manipulated, covered, and enriched when mixing a drink than using traditional dark rum. The next invention which would eventually comprise the famed concoction was that of Coca-Cola by John Pemberton, a pharmacist from Georgia, who created the world’s most popular soda in 1886. With the two main ingredients created, their paths were destined to cross in what the United States refers to as the Spanish-American War.

When Cuba began its struggle against its colonial oppressors, their overlords attempted to put down the fervor for freedom as many imperial powers have before, mass executions and population concentration. The United States could not just stand by and watch their colonial brethren be abused, so with the help of yellow journalism, the US intervened on behalf of the Cubans with the late, great Teddy Roosevelt participating in the fight. After a short struggle the Spanish capitulated and the Cubans were free.

  In what might be divine intervention the popular American soft drink and the native Bacardi Rum were united under the same roof. Rum, Coke, and Lime Juice were combined in a monumental moment in a bar full of Soldiers and civilians celebrating victory. One Soldier proposed a toast “To Cuban Freedom”. Thus the Cuba Libre was born.



 

 

The Cuba Libre

Drink History: The Cuba Libre

                I have enjoyed Rum and Coke since my Uncle introduced it to me as his favorite drink. His recipe doesn’t encompass what most people consider standard portions, since it is just a full glass of Rum with a touch of soda for coloring. From the moment the drink was introduced to me it has become my go-to for any bar or relaxing occasions (although bottom shelf Vodka shots have been a known alternate). It’s simple, easy to make, and easy to drink. But I did not understand the importance of the drink’s beginnings until I discovered its alternate name. I first heard the other name for Rum and Coke, the Cuba Libre, while studying abroad in Ecuador. I became infatuated with the name since the English translation is ‘Cuba Freedom’ and of course looked up the history to discover its glorious Cuban-American Heritage.

                The true beginnings reach back to the 1860s when Facundo Bacardi, the founder of Bacardi Rum (shocking I know), began mass production of low cost White Rum. The spread of White Rum was influential to the world of alcohol, as White Rum’s taste could be better manipulated, covered, and enriched when mixing a drink than using traditional dark rum. The next invention which would eventually comprise the famed concoction was that of Coca-Cola by John Pemberton, a pharmacist from Georgia, who created the world’s most popular soda in 1886. With the two main ingredients created, their paths were destined to cross in what the United States refers to as the Spanish-American War.

When Cuba began its struggle against its colonial oppressors, their overlords attempted to put down the fervor for freedom as many imperial powers have before, mass executions and population concentration. The United States could not just stand by and watch their colonial brethren be abused, so with the help of yellow journalism, the US intervened on behalf of the Cubans with the late, great Teddy Roosevelt participating in the fight. After a short struggle the Spanish capitulated and the Cubans were free.

  In what might be divine intervention the popular American soft drink and the native Bacardi Rum were united under the same roof. Rum, Coke, and Lime Juice were combined in a monumental moment in a bar full of Soldiers and civilians celebrating victory. One Soldier proposed a toast “To Cuban Freedom”. Thus the Cuba Libre was born.

 

Russian Proverb

Drinkers Hall of Fame: Andre the Giant

Drinker’s Hall of Fame

Andre the Giant

As one of the most well-known professional wrestlers of all time, Andre the Giant had a reputation for drinking as big as his liver.

Billed from France, Andre Rene Roussimoff would eventually grow to Seven feet four inches and 500 pounds. He used his large stature as a commodity and began working the independent pro-wrestling circuit in the 1960s and 1970s before signing with the big leagues. He would sign a contract with Vince McMahon Sr and work for the WWE (at the time WWWF). The height of his wrestling career came in 1987 at Wrestlemania III when he faced off against the immortal, Hulk Hogan. An obvious legend inside the ring, Andre simultaneously gained fame outside of the ring for his drinking ability.

With his immense size, his ability to take in alcohol was nothing short of amazing. He holds the unofficial record for beers in a single sitting at 119. He once got so drunk that he passed out on a hotel couch, but due to his size, the hotel staff was unable to move him and were forced to wait for him to wake up. He was also known to drink before wrestling, at one instance drinking 16 bottles of wine before competing in three matches in one night. Not one to drink in private, Andre would often become a bad influence for his fellow wrestlers, and later on, actors. On the set of the Princess Bride, Andre reportedly ensured the cast remained in a constant cycle of inebriation, unconsciousness, or hangovers.

Sadly, Andre passed in 1993 at the age of 46 due to complications with his large stature, but his legacy lives on.

Citation

For being the greatest drinker of all time, holding the unofficial record for most beers in one sitting at 119, Andre the Giant is hereby inducted into the Drinkers hall of Fame

Works Cited

"Biography." Andre the Giant. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. <http://www.andrethegiant.com/about/bio.html >

“6 Hard-Partying Andre the Giant Stories” Uproxx. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2015

< http://uproxx.com/sports/2014/05/6-hard-partying-andre-the-giant-stories-you-may-have-never-heard/ >

“Andre The Giant – The Baddest Ass Drunk Of All Time” Beermumbo. N.p., n.d. Web 6 Nov. 2015

< http://beermumbo.com/andre-the-giant/ >

Hemingway Quote

Drinking Deities: Patron Saints

Drinking Deities: Patron Saints

 

 

Although Christianity is not as adamant about promoting alcohol as its pagan counterparts it still acknowledges a need to provide spiritual guidance. These patron saints may seem like squares or even boring teetotalers when compared to the party animals of other religions but its sill helps to respect their value in the Christian belief system.

 



Bartenders: St. Amand of Maastricht

St. Amand was born in France in 584 AD, and received the ‘calling’ at a young age. His family highly disagreed with his career choices and attempted to dissuade him through kidnapping and threatening to deny him his inheritance. Saint Amand stuck to his beliefs and spent many years in quiet reflection before setting out and spreading the word. His patronage for brewers and bartenders is due to his missionary work in the beer regions of France and Belgium.

Beer: St Augustine

Born in North Africa before the fall of the Roman Empire, St Augustine spent years of his youth partying and teaching the beliefs of Manichaeism (cosmic duality of good and evil). Thanks to his mother’s prayers, he converted to Christianity but brought his philosophical studies of good and evil with him. As a Christian he turned down the drink, but his wild youth has lead him to be linked the patronage of beer and brewers.

Wine: Saint Urban of Langres

Another French Saint born in 374, he is famed for taking refuge in a vineyard while being persued by pagans. As thanks for protecting him, Saint Urban converted the vineyard workers and would continue his mission work moving from vineyard to vineyard. He would later build his church on the finances from wine. He is the Patron Saint of Wine and Vineyards due to his career long association with the drink.

Hangovers: Saint Bibiana

Saint Bibiana is one of the more obscure Saints, alive during the end of the Roman Empire, she was persecuted for her beliefs. After her persecutors attempted to force her into prostitution she was tortured and killed. Her attachment to hangovers comes from her death. A church was later built on her burial ground, and the dust from the columns was believed to cure hangovers.

 

Works Cited

St Urban Link

St Augustine Link

St Amand Link

Saint Bibiana Link

Beer Saints Link

Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop

An IBA Official New Era Cocktail which can be made as a cocktail or as a shooter

Cocktail Ingredients

·        1.5 ounces Vodka Lemon

·        .5 ounces Triple Sec

·        1 ounce Lemon Juice

·        .5 ounces simple syrup

·        Sugar

·        Lemon Wedge

Steps

1.    Rim a martini/cocktail glass with lemon juice and sugar

2.   Pour Vodka Lemon, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup into ice filled shaker and shake for 10-12 iterations

3.    Pour into Rimmed Martini/cocktail glass

4.    Enjoy

Alternate

Shooter Ingredients

·        .75 Ounces Vodka Lemon

·        .75 Ounces Lemon Juice

·        Rimmed Shooter Glass

Whiskey: A Short History

Whiskey

Whiskey: the drink of choice for men across the personality spectrum, from John Wayne to Hunter S Thompson, from Frank Sinatra to Mark Twain, from Ulysses S Grant to Winston Churchill. Whiskey might have the most hotly contended origin of all types of liquor, despite the fact that the warring sides are most closely related culturally. Americans and the Irish have the belief that the grain based beverage is Irish by origin, while the English and Scottish believe it is a product of the highland in the northern end of Great Britain. With possible origins separated by only a sliver of water, known as the Irish Sea, it is easy to understand how a largely unwritten ancient history of two people, in such close proximity, may cause claims of invention to be muddled over time.  

Whatever the case, the word comes from the Gaelic name “uisce beatha” meaning water of life. The modern word can be spelt two ways depending on where a person or a whiskey is from. Whiskey with an ‘e’ pertains to Irish and Americans while whisky without the ‘e’ (and therefore wrong) pertains the Scottish and English.

                Historically, whiskey was being distilled sometime between 600 and 1200 AD by Irish Monks (Thanks St Patrick), but would only become formally recorded in the 1400s in Scotland. Despite this early start, distilling wouldn’t boom until the 1600s, around the same time gin became big in British cities. While gin’s popularity was booming in England, whiskey maintained its popularity with the more rugged Scottish and Irish barbarians. Production in the two Celtic regions would receive another boom in the 1800s, with the invention of the continuous still by Irishman, Aeneas Coffey, which increased volume as well as profit margins for distillers.

                Across the pond, whiskey was being distilled almost immediately after settlements were established. Once civilization began to take hold, production of the spirit was focused around small to medium distillers. Though alcohol fueled the American Revolution both financially and spiritually, a decade after victory whiskey would become a victim of big government taxation. The heavy taxes almost caused a second, and justified, revolution later named the ‘Whiskey Rebellion”. American whiskey as we know it today wouldn’t come into its own until the early 1800s, when Americans began moving across the Appalachian Mountains into Tennessee and Kentucky. The mountainous regions of Kentucky and Tennessee became famous nationwide for their liquor making a distinct genre of the already well established drink. After years of success in America, prohibition brought the dark spirits’ popularity almost to a halt. Thankfully the silver lining of the ridiculous temperance movement was that it gave life to illegal distilling making a subgroup known as moonshine, which was kind of like the backwoods cousin of whiskey.

                Though clear liquors like gin and vodka gained popularity in the mid-20^th century due to the martini craze and their mixability, whiskey remained prevalent in the states, with bourbon being named America’s official spirit by Congress. Nowadays whiskey is still popular and is growing in foreign markets (China, Japan) while also growing in the female demographic.

So raise an old fashioned glass to drunk Irish monks, to the highlanders of Scotland, to whiskey rebels and Kentucky barrels, to secret speakeasys, bootleggers and moonshiners, and to those who only take their whiskey straight.

Variations

Irish: Distilled in Ireland, primarily uses malted barley which has been roasted over coal or gas, distilled three times, and aged in a barrel for three years.

Scotch: Distilled in Scotland, primarily made with malted barley that is dried over peat before distillation (giving it a smoky taste), aged for three years in a barrel. Scotch can vary in characteristics by regions in Scotland (highlands, lowlands, isles)

American: Bourbon: Can technically be made anywhere, though most strongly associated with Kentucky due to Bourbon County (named for the French Royal Family). This variation must be made with it least 51 percent corn, and barreled in charred oak barrels (primarily white oak)

American: Tennessee: Distilled in the Volunteer State with 51 percent of a single type of grain, the distinguishing factor is that it is filtered through charcoal chis.

Canadian: Distilled in America’s hat, this is type usually uses rye as the main ingredient, but also heavily blends with different grains and straight whiskeys up to 50 types for certain brands.

Single Barrel vs Blended: Single Barrel or Straight Whiskey is made with 51 percent of the same grain, placed in a single barrel before being bottled: no blending. Blended obviously mixes multiple grains and whiskeys from different distillation processes.

Sources

McFarland, Ben, and Tom Sandham. Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbiber's Guide to Alcohol. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 64-74. Print.

Hellmich, Mittie. Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,000 Cocktails. San Francisco: Chronicle, 2006. 332-339 Print.

Nietzsche Quote

Drinking Deities: Aegir

Drinking Deities: Aegir

 

Aegir was the Norse God of the Sea, a powerful idol who was very important in the seafaring culture. He was seen as very violent as well as unforgiving with sailors, often capsizing boats for his own amusement, like some obnoxious drunk dunking people at a pool party.

With his fellow Gods, however, it was a different story. He was more like the Van Wilder of the pantheon, providing the means and location to get blitzed. He often hosted very lavish parties filled with home-brewed booze made by Aegir and his nine daughters, using an enormous pot stolen from Hymir, a giant God. This pot allowed all the Gods to maintain their buzz for ages. Aegir’s brewing set a legendary example for his Nordic mortal subjects to follow.

With a culture where drinking was almost as important as fighting (and where the two were often mixed), a deity such as Aegir would often be given great respects during group banquets, with the Northmen toasting their horns full of Ale to Aegir the Brewer.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe09.htm

http://paganroots.com/information/gods/norse-gods-goddesses/aegir/

Link: Godchecker

Buffalo Theory by Cliff Clavin of Cheers

Gin: Short History

Gin: a Short History

                If modern Vodka is the bastard love child of Russia and Poland, then gin is the illegitimate offspring of an affair between the Dutch and the British. The English word Gin comes from the Dutch word Genever, which is Dutch for Juniper, the main ingredient of the light bodied spirit. Gin was originally being distilled by the Dutch in the 1500’s and gained fame for causing fearlessness in the Dutch Soldiers. This fearlessness brought a whole new meaning to liquid courage. English mercenaries, who fought alongside the Dutch took note of the spirit and brought it home across the channel.

However, gin’s popularity with the British wouldn’t fully blossom until William of Orange, a Dutchman, took the English throne. The monarch popularized the beverage by taxing Brandy imports from France, while simultaneously taxing beer at home to encourage gin distillation on Anglo soil. King William also helped popularize gin on a personal level by taking in vast quantities himself, setting a drunken example for his people to follow.

While popularity for gin grew, its market would balloon even more due to the lack of regulation. Citizens would establish Gin shops, in which they would create prison quality alcohol in dirty bathtubs without any concern over taste, quality or health. Over-indulgence created a ‘Gin Craze’ which found men, women, and even children consuming over 2 pints weekly. The balloon would pop, however, when deaths from toxic gin stills and overconsumption became widespread in London. After a couple decades of legislation named ‘Gin Acts’, distillation finally became regulated to a safe level in the 1750s with Alexander Gordon, of Gordons’ Gin, being one of the first major companies to appear.

Gin maintained its popularity in Western Europe, but wouldn’t begin to be embraced in the America’s until the second half of the 19^th Century. Cocktails had helped establish gin’s foothold across the Atlantic, but prohibition would all but stop the progress of Gin, as it had done to all spirits. At the end of prohibition gin came back even stronger thanks to the popularity of the martini as well as the help of Hollywood movie stars like Humphrey Bogart. Vodka would eclipse gin in North America in the 1950’s and 60’s, with the Vodka Martini becoming a more prominent alternative to the original. Nowadays, gin is on a rebound, finding a home in the hipster subculture.

Works Cited

McFarland, Ben, and Tom Sandham. Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbiber's Guide to Alcohol. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 164-170. Print.

Hellmich, Mittie. Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,000 Cocktails. San Francisco: Chronicle, 2006. 168-170 Print.

Phillips, Roderick. Alcohol: A History. N.p.: n.p., n.d. p 123-130. Print.

Drinking Deities: Dionysus

Drinking Deities

Bacchus/ Dionysus

The Greek God Dionysus, known to the Romans as Bacchus was the God of fertility, wine and the arts, so essentially sex, drugs, and rock and roll. He was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. His mother was destroyed by Zeus’ image and Dionysus had to be implanted in Zeus’ thigh to be born from it. I know, weird, but it gets better. Zeus sent him to be raised by nymphs for his safety until he came of age. Once he was old enough, he wandered to the far-east teaching the community how to cultivate wine for several years. He returned to the western world a full-fledged God and traveled from town to town getting hammered and sharing the glories of wine. He would enter towns in a drunken parade with Goat-footed Satyrs jamming on the pan flute, with nymphs scantily clad playing the role of his groupies. Dionysus would ride in a chariot driven by tigers, lions and other wild beasts. He would disperse wine and his partying vibes to a crowd welcoming him like the King of Mardi Gras. Dionysus’ ability to spread the party spirit was so legendary that Kings would be worried about his visits due to his ability to turn men into drunken animals.

Beyond the mythology, the real citizens of Rome, who focused their worship on the God of wine, would mimic in Dionysus’ carefree drinking ways with extravagant parties full of hedonistic behavior. The parties and overindulgence brought on by the Cult of Dionysus became so out of control, they were outlawed by Rome and which caused the citizens to worship (party) in secret.

Sources

http://www.crystalinks.com/bacchus.html

http://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Dionysus/dionysus.html

Hall of Fame: Wade Boggs

Drinker’s Hall of Fame

Wade Boggs

Wade Anthony Boggs was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Red Sox, their rivals the Yankees and some team from Tampa Bay. He had an amazing career with over 3000 career hits and over a .300 batting average, but enough about the boring facts, onto drinking stats.

Wade is a renowned drinker, once quoted saying “Beer doesn’t affect me”. He became legendary after rumors began to circulate that he was drinking between 50-70 beers on cross country trips between games. Some claim his record number was 64, some 73, the man himself says it may have been over 100.

Wade’s ability to down beers became known in pop culture first with an appearance on the Simpsons (Pictured Above) where he hilariously fights the town drunk Barney. His more recent major appearance, which has reignited the fame of his alcohol prowess was on the FX show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, in which he appears as a hallucination during a contest to break his record (Pictured Above).

Citation

For his ability to consume over 60 beers while travelling, Wade Boggs is hereby entered into the Drinkers Hall of Fame

 

 

"Wade Boggs." The Baseball Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

"Wade Boggs -- Wanna Drink 100 Beers In 24 Hours?? Here's How ..." Http://www.tmz.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2015.

Appletini

Appletini

The Apple Martini or Appletini for short was created in 1990s in the West Hollywood Bar Lola’s, worth noting it is not an actual martini

Ingredients

·        1.5oz Vodka

·        1oz Green Apple Schnapps

·        1oz Apple Puree

·        Green Apple Slice

Steps

1.     Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice

2.     Shake vigorously

3.     Strain into Martini Glass

4.     Garnished with a Green Apple Slice

 

George Bernard Shaw

Vodka: A Short History

Vodka: A Short History

                The drink from the East which was once drunk by the most ruthless leaders of Russia is now a party liquor for college kids and the main ingredient of most ‘girly’ cocktails. The neutral taste of Vodka makes it a bartender’s best friend, and the relatively cheap prices makes it closer than family to a young drinker. Cape Coder, Screwdriver, Cosmopolitan, Appletini, White Russian or just straight shots from the bottom shelf all are great choices. Whatever your vodka drink of choice may be, it will be nice for you to learn the turbulent history of the alcohol which has caused many you to have had wild nights with rough mornings.

Vodka’s origins are in the region spanning Poland, Ukraine, and Russia and its early generations were probably the result of Monks’ experimentation during the middle ages. Although most Americans recognize the beverage as a Russian design, the Polish often contest this as it’s a matter of national pride, though both nations have reason to claim creation. Russian Tsars took control over the Vodka industry early on and used its revenues to fund the government, privileged supporters were allowed to distill the spirit for loyalty to the Tsar. By the late 1800s the Russian government banned serfdom which had prevented any of the lower classes to embrace their entrepreneurial spirt. The commoners were allowed to distill which vastly increased the quality and quantity of the spirit. A young serf who took advantage of Vodka’s growth was Pytor Smirnov, whose recipe created the Smirnov brand. Production in Poland started with using grain and began wide scale production in the 1500s. Eventually the Poles switched to using potatoes as they became more readily available in the 1800s. Scandinavians, particularly Sweden had a nationwide industry in the 1700s.  By the 1940s, World War Two had introduced Western Europe and America to Vodka which became extremely popular. Bartending ingenuity began to boom with Vodka as the neutral taste allowed for more variations in flavor and thus more variations in drinks. More recently high end vodka has been on the rise with brands like Grey Goose and Absolute.

So raise a glass to Peter the Great for all his partying, to Mother Russia for kicking out its greatest distiller, to Polish potatoes and to James Bond for bringing the brand to popular culture.

Popular Brands

Grey Goose, Ketal One, Smirnoff, Crystal Skull, Svedka, Vladimir, Vestal, Reyka, Belvedere, Absolute, New Asterdam, Mccormicks, Popov, Stolichnaya

 

Works Cited

·         McFarland, Ben, and Tom Sandham. "Rum." Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbiber's Guide to Alcohol. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.

·         Phillips, Roderick. Alcohol: A History. N.p.: n.p., n.d.. Print.

·         Hellmich, Mittie. Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to over 1,000 Cocktails. San Francisco: Chronicle, 2006. Print.

The Phone

The Phone

This adventure begins at a house party and ends in a strip club parking lot.

                Hosting a rager at my house started out relatively calm with a killer beer pong tournament and a couple handles of tequila. Once everyone was well toasted an idea was brought up in jest.

                “We should go to a strip club.” John said not loud enough to be declared an announcement, but it did spur on Donny who had heard the statement, and quickly yelled “Fuck yea we should go to a strip club!”

Now the whole group was aware of what seemed like a promising idea and with the brain power of eight drunks, we managed to call up two taxis. Within minutes of arriving at the club two were down for the count, laying their heads on the table in defeat. No more than ten minutes in, half the group was prepared to leave behind the strippers we rapidly annoyed, so another cab was requested.

Waiting outside with our two semi-conscious friends sitting on the curb, my buddy Louis and I had thought the uneventful night was over. Suddenly a flustered stripper and what was supposed to be an intimidating bouncer come out and began yelling at the group, with claims that Louis had stolen the strippers’ phone. Despite their inebriation, the two buddies who should be fast asleep were renewed with a surge of energy and began to argue on Louis’ behalf. After a tense 10 minutes, that in our minds sounded like a court case out of Law and Order, but was likely incoherent rambling, the stripper and the ‘security’ acquitted us of all charges and left us in the parking lot.

Happy that the situation did not escalate into violence we began laughing about what had just transpired. When it calmed down, Louis pulled out the stolen phone with a big grin, confessing he thought it was our friend’s phone but didn’t want to admit the stripper was right. He walked back in the club and told the cover charge employee that he found the phone in the parking lot and believes it belonged to the stripper who just walked in.

God damn it Louis.

James Crumley

Churchill

Buttface

Buttface



The elegant game of Buttface is as classy as its name implies and as fancy as the drinks required to play. I picked up this game in the early days of my drinking and it is still a group favorite.

Items Required

·         40oz Bottles of Malt Liquor

·         Quarter (multiples preferred)

·         Sunglasses

·         A table

·         Irresponsible friends

Rules

Players are spaced evenly around the table

Each player places their 40 in front of them on the table

A player will spin a quarter in the center of the table and call out the name of another player at the table

While the quarter is still spinning, the player who was called out will attempt to smack the quarter at another players bottle.

All Players who are not called out to smack are allowed to defend their bottle with the back of one hand as soon as the player smacking is called out

If the quarter makes contact with a player’s bottle, that player becomes Buttface and must don the sunglasses making defense that much more difficult. Buttface also must drink whenever commanded and may be asked to drink their bottle at “90 degrees” until told to stop.

If Buttface’s bottle is hit by the quarter 7 times in a row they are ‘skunked’, house rules determine the punishment.

Sub Rules

Spinners rotate only when a bottle is hit, whether it’s the same Buttface or a new one

Spinners become Buttface if they fail three attempts to spin in a row

If a quarter hits a players bottle, ricochets off of it and hits another players botte, Buttface is whoever’s bottle was last hit before being stopped